Concrete Hand Tools

Jointers and Groovers

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:02:53 +0000

Jointing the concrete is accomplished by grooving tools (unless the slab will be sawcut later). The purpose is to control the location of cracks that may form when the slab "contracts" due to drying shrinkage or temperature changes

Look inside tooled joints or sawcuts and you will see the concrete is cracked—The joint did its job and controlled where the concrete cracked.

Joints are most often hand-tooled into sidewalks, driveways and patios and sawcut into floors, highways, and city streets.

Concrete Screeds

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:00:10 +0000

Staightedges are used to "strikeoff" or "screed" the concrete. This process removes excess concrete and brings the top surface of the concrete to proper grade. There are a wide variety of screeding tools—both hand tools (wood and magnesium) and mechanical tools (vibratory, oscillating, and roller).

Concrete Trowels

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:53:39 +0000

Troweling produces a hard, smooth, dense surface and should be done immediately after floating. Troweling can be done by machine or by hand .If done by hand, the finisher will float and trowel and area before moving his knee-boardsMore than one troweling can be done: as the concrete sets each successive troweling should be made with a smaller trowel tipped at a greater angle than the last troweling. This increases pressure on the surface producing maximum floor smoothness and hardness. However, hard troweled surfaces are not suggested for outdoor surfaces since they become slippery when wet.

Concrete Floats

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:47:23 +0000

Floating should be done after the edging and jointing operations. Floating helps remove imperfections and produces a flatter surface.It also compacts the slab and the mortar at the surface in preparation for later finishing operations. Floating can be performed by machine or by hand. If floating is done by hand, a magnesium float is recommended, particularly on air entrained or lightweight concrete.

Concrete edging tools

admin — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 13:11:18 +0000

Concrete..." src="http://img.thefind.com/images/SwCbvH2f3DSGaQzvpjAypCcWpaTmMWSUlBRY6etn5iamp-oVZ-QXVGXm5CTqJefn6helFmdWpdoXF9oamhqolWam2JoaGBsbmVqYmDIwAAA*?m=1&g=1" /> Edgers produce a radius along the slab edge which help the slab resist chipping and damage after the forms are removed. Perform edging after the bleedwater disappears from the concrete surface. On most floors, edging will not be required, but on patios, curbs, sidewalks, and driveways, it produces a tighter, cleaner looking edge that is more resistant to chipping. Different edgers produce different edge radiuses: 1/8" through 1" radius edgers are available. There are special edgers for steps and curb and gutter work.